Planning a quick trip to southern california the first of August. Disneyland on a weekend sounds crazy but it is the plan. Need help with a hotel. Don't want to spend the money for the onsite hotels (I don't think it is as important as it is at Disneyworld-I have never been to CA so could be wrong) We would like something just as nice but under 275.00 a night. Any help??

The Disney California Grand hotel is coming up at $305 a night for 2 adults and 2 kids in one room the first three nights of August (I was just guessing). Are you sure you don't want to stay on-site?

Off-site, there are tons of motels and suite motels. There are also the typical chain hotels - Marriott (which has a nice indoor-outdoor pool) and others.

Yes, I would love to stay at the California Grand but we are traveling with two young couples and their budget is maxed out at $200.00 a night-problem is their taste is closer to the Californa Grand. My daughter is looking at the Hilton Anaheim the Marriott and the Portofino. Which of these would come closer to the resort feel of a disney property?

Aaah, I was looking at it because of your $275 price -- $305 is not a big difference from $275, definitely a big difference from $200 or less The Marriott and Hilton are typical large chain hotels -- they're very nice, but don't really have a resort feel at all to me. But as I said the Marriott does have a really nice indoor-outdoor pool. We most often stayed there when our kids were little (shuttle to Disneyland). It's been a long time (kids no longer little!) though. Sorry, I don't know the Portofino.

Hi maggie,

Just posted this on another thread -

The Best Western Park Place Inn is directly across the street from the DL gate. You literally can't get any closer without staying on site.

I've stayed at both the hilton and marriott on business and while they are nice, they don't even come close to feeling 'disney-ish.'

Friends have stayed at the HoJo and its fine too, but a bit more of a walk down the street. We also tried The Candy Cane Inn, also close by and very cute but a bit more of a walk - only important coming BACK. Going its nothing, but after long days in the park you'll be happy to be as close as possible. The candy cane inn has a shuttle but the times were never convenient when we were there.

Again the BW directly across the street is a great option.

Try the Howard Johnson's (there are several in the area so make sure it's the one across from DL). We stayed there two nights last year and would certainly stay again. They have a shuttle (though you could walk) to DL and a nice pool area for the kids. If you've not already done so, check out www.mousesavers.com (that's how I learned of HoJo). I realize we went in the fall and rates are probably less than summer, but I paid approx $120 a night.

The Best Western Park Place (where we stayed once, too) is one of the suite motels to which I referred. It's fine, but it is hardly in the same category (i.e. "just as nice") as the on-site hotels or even the Marriott or Hilton.

I agree with you dmlove, but the difference is you won't see 'suits' at the BW park place inn where as the marriott and hilton are often for conferences.

Absolutely right - you're more likely to see matching Mickey Mouse t-shirts than suits!

IMHO, the onsite hotels at DL aren't worth it, unless you want to splurge and stay at the Grand, which you don't, so...

The "Good Neighbor" Hotels are all closer to the amusement park than the other 2 onsite hotels. We like the Carousel Inn, and they have suites available. This map shows you the locales of the local hotels:
http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/maps/...stance_map.htm

You should be able to find quite a few that are less than 275 a night, but double-check on tripadvisor before booking because some (like the Carousel Inn and others mentioned above) are nice; some are real dogs.